‘Living in Havering’ Magazine, 23rd August 2023

In 2018 Damian White made the taxpayer funded Living in Havering a Conservative Party newsletter. The latest HRA edited magazine is going the same way.¹

Ray Morgon, or is it Gillian Ford?² has written an article on the introduction of ULEZ in Havering. It’s a biased political statement.

They begin their rant, “The expansion of the zone has been incredibly unpopular in outer-London boroughs.” Morgon-Ford depend on the ravings of Twitter and Conservative propaganda for their opinions. Redbridge Council, an outer-London borough, in their version of Living In Havering,³ place ULEZ as their 8^th item in a single sentence, “The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will be Londonwide from Tuesday, 29 August 2023.” Redbridge inform residents about matters of direct concern to them, not party-politics at the taxpayers’ expense.

Morgon-Ford keep on digging, “Unfortunately, the scheme is only available to those that live in London, so people and businesses outside of the borough that need to drive in for work, are not eligible for any support.”

They want Londoners to pay for the upgrading of Brentwood residents’ cars.⁴ HRA want to increase the GLA precept to subsidise Conservative county councils. If they think ULEZ is unpopular, they want to try that one.

HRA’s Living In Havering is taxpayer funded and shouldn’t be a party-political propaganda sheet. If they want to know what a proper Council magazine looks they should read Redbridge Update.

Notes

1 ULEZ rolls out to Havering, knife arrests in Romford, fly-tipper caught and fined (govdelivery.com)

2 Gillian Ford has emerged as the PR face of the administration with numerous TV and media appearances.

3 Latest news and updates from Redbridge Council – 12hedonic@gmail.com – Gmail (google.com) The lead item is GCSE results

4 Brentwood council tax bands & costs 2023/24 They pay £120 p.a. less than Havering for a band D property

Andrew Rosindell: Romford’s Absentee MP

Background

Andrew was arrested in May, 2022 for various alleged offences.¹ His police bail has been extended five times from then until August, 2023.

When bailed he made a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with the Conservative Chief Whip to distance himself from parliament. Neither expected police bail to last 15 months.

Politics

Non-attendance from parliament for 15 months is unique. It begs the question whether Romford is represented as it should be. A pragmatic solution, to what was hoped to be a temporary embarrassment, has become a nightmare. Andrew’s absence means the Chief Whip and he have denied Romford their democratic rights.
Worse, Romford Conservative party members were deceived during Andrew’s reselection process. They didn’t know he was persona non grata ²in the parliamentary Conservative party. As a long-standing MP with an excellent track record he could have been reselected anyway.

Police Bail

Is 15 months of police bail an abuse of the system?

“The officers making the decision to extend police bail must be satisfied that the investigation by police has been conducted diligently and expeditiously, and that keeping the person on bail whilst the investigation is conducted is both necessary and proportionate.”³ (my emphasis)

Five extensions are shocking.

Conclusion

Andrew deserves better than this and so do the people of Romford.

Notes

1 Tory MP Andrew Rosindell has not attended parliament for more than a year since arrest (thetimes.co.uk)

2 persona non grata meaning – Search (bing.com)

3 How long can I be kept on police bail? – TV Edwards Solicitors see also The Perplexing Reality of Extended Police Bail | London’s Defence Lawyers (stuartmillersolicitors.co.uk)

Upminster By-election, 10th August 2023

RAs traditionally are possessive about their wards. It is their ward. Everything is important because they live alongside their voters. RAs regard Party politics as an obnoxious distraction in local government. They glory in being ‘amateurs’ unsullied by party bosses dictating policy decisions.

Jacqueline Williams doesn’t list her address in the election notification.¹ So what? Her fellow Upminster councillors are cabinet members with listed addresses despite their high profile. Not listing her address makes her semi-detached about core Resident Association values. Modern RAs are a clique trading on a diluted brand.

The late Linda Hawthorn became a councillor when she was 37 years-old. She served her ward for 33 years as a true RA, receiving a miniscule allowance at the beginning. Allowances were £200 a year in 1990. Jacqueline will receive £10,412 p.a. Needless to relate Linda listed her address, home phone number and wasn’t in it for a pension supplement.

Hornchurch and Upminster Conservative Party

Conservative Central Office have thrown their candidate, Ed Green, out of the party He flaunts his obnoxious views.² Did Hornchurch and Upminster Conservatives ‘discover’ his opinions like everyone else – through reading the Romford Recorder? Do they even care?

Selection committees scrutinise candidates. His proposers, Samuel Green and John Mylod, must know him. So, what sort of political conversations did they have? He’s been ejected from the Conservative party but they’re still members. Why? There’s a question mark over the entire selection panel for the same reason.

Meanwhile everyone has noticed Julia Lopez’s deafening silence.³Conservative Central Office should see if Hornchurch and Upminster constituency party is rotten to the core.

Addendum: The election result

Jacqueline won a stupendous victory massively defeating all other candidates

Notes

1 Notification of candidates Upminster By-Election 2023 Statement of Persons Nominated (havering.gov.uk) The Havering Daily published self-penned descriptions of candidates. This is Jacqueline’s Upminster By-Election Special: Jacqueline Williams – Upminster Resident Association Candidate. – The Havering Daily She’s quite entitled to not list her address but it goes against the RAs DNA.

2 Suspended Conservative Ed Green defends Greta Thunberg post | Romford Recorder See also Hornchurch and Upminster Conservative Association select their candidate for Upminster by election. – The Havering Daily

3 Julia Lopez MP | for Hornchurch & Upminster See also the Conservative website News | Hornchurch and Upminster (hornchurchandupminsterconservatives.com) both accessed 8^th August 2023

4 Local elections | Election results | The London Borough Of Havering

Havering’s Places Overview and Scrutiny Committee, 18th July 2023

David Taylor’s debut as chair proved he’s affable and courteous. The principal items on the agenda concerned trees and Havering’s fleet of vehicles. Both items had officers presenting reports with skill and panache. It was refreshing to hear experts nimbly answering questions.

Trees are very complex. A ‘canopy’ cover in Havering was a surprise. What wasn’t a surprise was a discussion of fruit trees. Brian Eagling (39 mins)¹ and Gerry O’Sullivan (46 mins) spoke passionately about the damage, danger and mess they cause. They are an unintended consequence of the 1987 Great Storm, when there was no choice of replacement trees. The lack of maintenance was emphasised by Brian Vincent (34mins). Nonetheless the political consequences of stripping trees from streets was remembered by Osman Dervish (35 mins). Trees have passionate supporters.

The principal officers for Havering’s fleet of vehicles were a masterful double-act. The ULEZ programme has many ramifications. ULEZ fines were a burning topic and no-one believed the implementation August 29^th date will be postponed.²It seems Havering will pay about £88,000 in fines. This has incentivised the procurement of compliant vehicles. Air pollution was emphasied as a driving force in addition to efficiency though Climate Change wasn’t mentioned.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Havering Daily: a comment

The e-newspaper did a survey of councillors about ULEZ.³ Not a single councillor mentioned Public Health, which was depressing. Even the Labour Party is trapped by a desire to have it both ways.

The Havering Daily should be congratulated for their efforts. And councillors who replied are sensitive to the democratic necessity of transparent dialogue – so they too should be congratulated. A surprising non-responder was Keith Prince – a ULEZ ultra.

Notes

1 Annotator Player (sonicfoundry.com) All times refer to this webcast

2 And they were quite correct as the High Court ratified ULEZ on the 28^th July

3 Havering Councillors Reveal Their Views on the ULEZ Expansion and Pay Per Mile Scheme – The Havering Daily

Havering Cabinet Meeting, 14th June 2023

Keith Prince’s inaugural meeting as Conservative leader began immediately (@4minutes)¹ with a complaint about exempt items. Strangely, he was quasi-apologetic, which contrasts with his usual combative style. Martin Goode continues to star in this committee and he should be a mentor to Keith. Martin does his homework diligently.

Martin’s comments (8 mins) were perceptive and helpful. He built on this later when commenting on the Climate Change report (24mins). Keith Darvill² discussed the use of heat pumps and Martin asked whether Havering was on the hook for conversion costs for the houses which are to be leased for the homeless. (LBH is leasing them for 10 years.)³ The question was asked but the answer? This problem clearly hadn’t been considered showing Havering’s failed understanding of a cross-cutting approach.

Gillian Ford made five contributions (12 mins) (19 mins) (27 mins) (29 mins) (35 mins) without offering insights. Keith Darvill’s (20 mins) cross-cutting Climate Change item was a golden opportunity for cabinet members to make departmental responses. Oscar Ford should have commented on the environmental impact of route design for school transport but didn’t. Paul Middleton’s new Leisure Centre is a huge energy user and a comment on that would have been helpful in a review of Havering’s Climate Change aspirations.

Climate Change is critically important and to passively ‘receive’ a report is a reckless dereliction of duty.

Notes

1 Annotator Player (sonicfoundry.com) All timings relate to this webcast

2 (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Cabinet, 14/06/2023 19:30 (havering.gov.uk) Item 7 is very interesting

3 See item 5 (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Cabinet, 14/06/2023 19:30 (havering.gov.uk) Summary statement 1

Havering Council Meeting – 12th July, 2023

There are 54 councillors and eleven¹ were absent from this meeting. Councillors Nunn and Mugglestone were attending a family funeral but the other nine? Twenty percent of councillors absent for a council meeting? Did they forget to pick up their £200 for this week?

The death of veteran councillor Linda Hawthorn was eulogised in various ways. Chris Wilkins (@ 25 minutes)², a family friend, sounded like a vicar who’d been given notes and then went through the motions. The contrast with Robert Benham (35 mins) couldn’t have been greater. A warm, kind and personal statement did both him and Linda proud.

Graham Williamson (43 mins) forgot to bring his petition to the meeting. A pitiful lapse. This provides a commentary on his organisational abilities.

Barry Mugglestone was absent for Question Time.³ Mischievously Ray Morgon arranged for Judith Holt to have meetings with Barry about Qs. 1 and 3. Martin Goode (1 hour15) asked a very pointed question about the King’s Park estate and the quality of its infrastructure. Jason Frost (1 hour 26) asked a good question on biodiversity and planning.

A motion on e-scooters was led by Robert Benham (1 hour 50). He highlighted their menace. Robert could have asked why Havering’s private million pound policeforce⁴ don’t enforce the law but didn’t. Mandy Anderson (2 hours 05) said the Over 50s Forum condemned e-scooters. The HRA amendment was pointless.

Councillor absenteeism is outrageous and especially Damian White’s.

Notes

1 John Crowder, Philippa Crowder, Laurence Garrard, James Glass, Robby Misir, Barry Mugglestone, Stephanie Nunn, Katharine Tumility, Christine Vickery, Damian White and Darren Wise See https://havering.blog/2023/04/08/haverings-councillors-value-for-money-march-2023/ for a discussion of this point

2 Annotator Player (sonicfoundry.com) All timings relate to this webcast

3 (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Council, 12/07/2023 19:30 (havering.gov.uk) Go to Item 9 p93ff

4 Havering’s million-pound contract is with the MetPolice for five policemen. LBH is paying and OAPs fear e-scooters and so let our police leap into action. Havering’s Million Pound Mistake, 2019-22 – Politics in Havering

Political Reporting in Havering

If Havering had Proportional Representation, there wouldn’t be any councillors because most people don’t vote. There’d be an empty council chamber. Local elections are boycotted and newspapers will only report what is interesting.

Romford Recorder: 30^th June 2023

The Recorder gives politicians¹ a weekly column. Ray Morgon, Leader of the Council, filed a piece for this week.

He outlined administrative changes in the council structure, which are a Target Operating Model. The key priorities are three areas of activity: “improving our digital offering, improving our customer service and resident engagement.” He then discussed enforcement of littering laws, locking park gates (the majority don’t have gates), and cashless parking meters.

It was fascinating for geeks.

Havering Daily: accessed 3^rd July 2023

This is an e-newspaper with a section called, ‘Politics’. They highlight HRA, Brexit, Labour and LibDems.³

Access is excellent: content is terrible. Brexit and the LibDems have articles from November 2019. The most recent for HRA is 5^th June 2023 and Labour, 28^th June.

Each article is a local issue with one principal member identified with it.

An innovation is the Taylor Talks⁴ monthly column. There’s been one so far and he doesn’t identify himself as a Conservative councillor. Why? His article focuses on being proud of Romford, showing a tragic lack of ambition. His second article was due on July 1st and didn’t appear. Maybe he has a flexible concept of ‘monthly’?

Notes

1 Andrew Rosindell’s Big Idea – Politics in Havering This blog discussed Andrew Rosindell’s thoughts Recorder 14^th April 2023

2 Recorder p33 30^th June 2023

3 Conservatives aren’t listed, which could be a considered opinion

4 NEW: Taylor Talks-‘It’s time we take pride in Romford.’ – The Havering Daily

Havering’s Strategic Planning committee: 8th June, 2023

The first item was strategic.¹ The council could agree a major development on the borough’s Green Belt. This decision effects the HRA’s beating heartbeat and is of the first importance. HRA councillors have built their political careers ruthlessly opposing Green Belt encroachments. Now it’s their policy.

Ray Morgon was unequivocal in his Leader’s speech at Annual Council.² He said the data centre is a Treasure Island. This is evangelical. HRA residents will hope his infectious optimism doesn’t cloud the committee’s judgement.

The council is proposing a novel, for LBH, planning route. That route is a Local Development Order (LDO). The chief officer masterfully explained why this is necessary. Gerry O’Sullivan summed up the committee’s comprehension by saying he hoped future documents were “understandable”.

An LDO provides levels of certainty for the developer and avoids planning application hazards, especially delay.

The next item was old-fashioned. Parking! What else stirs passions amongst elderly male councillors? The discussion focused on 168 parking spaces in a Rainham development. Despite officers repeatedly saying that those renting the units knew about parking restrictions, Ray Best was unmoved. Jane Keane voiced an alternative point-of-view. It was a cry in the wilderness. Councillors were as intoxicated as fox hunters in full cry. Reg Whitney claimed electric cars would worsen the problem.

Ray Best sulked after discovering there was a GLA imperative which might reduce the 168 spaces. A few remarks were passed about Sadiq Khan but it was low key grumbling.

Notes

1 Annotator Player (sonicfoundry.com) The webcast was abysmal with very uneven quality.

2 Annotator Player (sonicfoundry.com) from 1 hour 7 minutes

Havering Councillor: Keith Prince (Squirrels Heath)(part two)

It’s difficult to overstate how unique Keith’s political position is. He’s a councillor for both the GLA and Havering.¹ Conservative Central Office parachuted Keith into Havering because it needs political maturity. Keith is a veteran of local politics and will inject realism into Romford Conservatives. They’ve lost power after 20 years, which is ominous. Lost power in a Conservative heartland!²

Keith was elected 33 years ago as a Havering councillor. He moved to Redbridge, became Leader and effortlessly slid into the GLA in 2016.³ In 2022 he ousted Damian White from Squirrels Heath ward. Damian saw it coming and finessed the attack by shifting to Havering-atte-Bower ward. He then politically manipulated naïve new councillors⁴ from Rainham, winning the 2022 Conservative leadership election. A triumph of political manoeuvering.

Game, Set and Match to Damian.

It was temporary.⁵ Keith won the group election in 2023 and Damian is yesterday’s man. Keith believes he’ll solve Romford’s ‘problem’ with time to spare. He’s a GLA councillor with 400,000+ constituents, a Havering councillor, and Leader of the Conservatives. Superman?

At Annual Council Keith misunderstood procedure. A blip? Havering needs a strong Opposition to keep HRA/Labour on their toes.

Notes

1 (a) Register of Interests for Havering Council mgConvert2PDF.aspx (havering.gov.uk)

(b) Register of Interests for the GLA Keith Prince – Register of interests | London City Hall

2 Julia Lopez and Andrew Rosindell have huge majorities.

3 Roger Evans was GLA member from 2000 to 2016.

4 They decamped joining the HRA after a few weeks reducing the Conservatives to 20 councillors. They are Sarah Edwards, Jacqueline McArdle and Sue Ospreay.

5 See Havering Councillor: Damian White (Havering-atte-Bower) – Politics in Havering

Havering’s Annual Council Meeting, 24th May, 2023

Havering’s Annual Council meeting¹ is a character-building event. Only political geeks should attend. Out-going mayor Trevor McKeevor, walks and talks like a mayor, so Stephanie Nunn, the new mayor, has a hard act to follow. An instant difference was Stephanie’s easy-going familiarity. She waved to people in the chamber. This included Robert Benham and her spiritual advisor (at 47 minutes). This is a sharp change in tone.

The death of Linda Hawthorn² was noted without eulogies. That will come at the council meeting on the 12^th July. She was a veteran councillor having served 33 years.

The meeting livened up when new Conservative leader, Keith Prince, tried to withdraw David Taylor’s nomination for a council position. He misunderstood procedure and Taylor remained on the candidate list notwithstanding Prince’s efforts to withdraw his name. Taylor was defeated 29-3 with three members not realising they were voting for a non-candidate.³ They demonstrated loyalty (beyond!) the bitter end.

The meeting concluded with Ray Morgon’s summary of the year. He had a good story to tell. Unfortunately, he ruined it with a disastrous metaphor about the sea – in landlocked Havering. His principal highlight was building a successful coalition. The low point was the ‘parking permit’ fiasco, which he⁴ gracefully accepted as being the antidote of a triumph.

Notes

1 For the webcast go to Annotator Player (sonicfoundry.com) All times relate to this source

2 See Havering Councillor: Linda Hawthorn (Upminster) – Politics in Havering for a summary of her exceptional position in Havering’s political life.

3 The voting was: 29 For the HRA candidate; 3 Against; 7 Abstentions. Interestingly these 39 votes out of 54 mean 15 councillors were doing something else.

4 The responsible cabinet members, Barry Mugglestone and Chris Wilkins, presumably accepted blame in private.